By Peter Douglas
FORMER Healesville High School student Sarah D’Arcy is set to make her AFL women’s league debut next year.
The highly touted tall forward had been on recruiters’ radars for some time, while her hard work was rewarded on Wednesday 12 October, when Collingwood called her name out with pick number 22 during the 2016 AFL women’s draft.
The announcement represented years of hard work for D’Arcy, 25, who has held ambitions of competing at the elite level for many years.
D’Arcy originally played with the Yarra Valley Cougars, before plying her trade in recent years with the Eastern Devils in the VFL state league.
D’Arcy spoke with the ‘Mail’ just moments after her drafting.
“It’s just unbelievable, I can’t believe it’s finally happened,” she said.
“I’ve had great support from friends, team-mates and my work place (Australian Traffic Control) and I can’t wait to meet my new team-mates.”
D’Arcy said she was to head into the Magpies’ Holden Centre to meet her new team-mates, before starting training on 21 November.
One of the club’s marquee recruits is renowned goal-kicker Moana Hope, with whom D’Arcy will be aiming to form a formidable forward combination.
Her drafting was also welcome news for her Richmond-fanatic Dad, Brian D’Arcy.
Mr D’Arcy, a former Healesville High School teacher, said he was rapt with the news.
Although, being a Richmond fan, he said it would take a while to get used to watching his daughter wear black and white stripes.
“I’ve been practising ‘go Pies’ all day, but it just doesn’t feel right,” he said.
Though, he was confident his daughter would thrive in a professional environment like Collingwood.
“Up until two years ago, she really couldn’t do too much with her football,” he said.
“But now she trains every day, she’s right into the diet and just loves it.
“I think she’ll do really well at Collingwood.”
Mr D’Arcy expects Sarah will play a pivotal role, given the 16-a-side, fast-paced nature of the game.
“I think she’ll play a (St Kilda star) Nick Riewoldt type of role … she’ll push up the ground and be fairly mobile,” he said.
“Her job will be to get it to Mo (Hope).”
Mr D’Arcy, who is now an assistant principal at Yea High School, said his family was extremely proud of her efforts.
He always believed she would get drafted, but said there was never any guarantee.
